Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-30
HERE'S THE QUESTION
HOW MANY BONDS DO THE DIPLOMATS
REPREsEHTi
This ii Int 'rr' gatory Of Yesterday Pro-
eeedings Of the Conference
Personal, &c.

The legislative committee Speaker
Strart chairman) met in conference
with Messrs Thornton and Braithwaite
at the Allen house yesterday morning
Mr.. Linney, of Washington, was APP
pointed stenographer, but not having
arrived in time for the session, MIR.
George C. Lafferty filed the position
J5r6 tem., and was engaged in note
taking for one hour and three quarters.
CLOSED DOORS.
II has been determined that all
the meetings of the committee
shall be secret-that is, az secret
as the excluded newspaper report
ers and "leaky members will per-
nit: but from time TO time 1t Is
likely that facts of interest will b. Off
cislly communicated to the two houses.
Meantime the stenograpbers will 20 on
note taking and transcribing, and III
the end will have enough matter writ
ten out to fill large volume. This
will undoubtedly be reported to the
General Assembly at the close OF the
conference, and il will rest with the
two houses to determine whether 1t
shall he embalmcd in print for the use
of posterity or simply to "file it with
the archives Of the government" " The
average statesman had much rather SEE
his speech printed as soon as delivered
but here it cannot I've. II must wait
and cool.
DIsQUIET.
There is a deal OF disquietude or
something of the kind among the mem
bers who are not on the committee.
As an instance of it at one time yester-
day it looked rs if the Senate were
gong to adopt Mr.. McDonald's resolu-
tions. The reason is that when mem
bers approach committeeman to con-
verse about this debt matter the latter
speak under great restraint. So it has
come about that n mutual embarrass-
ment has arisen. and the result Of it
may he that the secret sessions will be
terminated. Certainly Sir. Edward
and Mr.. Bmithwaite will not object, as
they have not brought any stenogra-
piers with them, and probably never
before entered a diplomatic conference
where such persons were present.
sBIEAnsHING.
st the session yesterday there was "A
vast deal Of "sklrmishing for position. "
Each sfle wished to know what the
other wouid propose. but no very val
uable hints were thrown out by the
Eritishers.
The legislators were not so reserr2d.
They said over and over again that
"any settlement must he based upon
our net revenues" All were emphatic
on that point; but some went further
and indicated that they would in no
wise alter the Riddleberger bill. Others
spoke in a more encouraging and con
cihatory spirit.
THE WANTED.
Tie ursbot of it all was that Mes'rs.
Thornton and Braithwaite said that
they must have time to look into the
States financial exhibits.
They named several books, reports,
&C., &C., which they wished to get, and
which the committee promised to fur
nish them with.
HOW MANY BONDS DO THEY REPRESENT ?
That is the great question.
Several members o. the committee
expressed a desire to know of Messrs.
Thornton and Bmithwaite how many
dollars and cents in Virginia bonds
they were prepared to speak for and
treat about.
This pointed question the British
gentlemen were not ready to answer
outright.
What they claim, it is understood, is
that practically they represent or con
troll all of the bonds that bear tax
receivable coupons and all the overdue
coupons. Any agreement made be-
tween them and the State they will bc
able to bring all the holders OF those
securities into.
Tins is regarded by many of the COM
mittee as unsatisfactory.
They want precise datq.
The reason that Messrs. Thornton
and Eraithwaite cannot be more pre-
else is that all their arrangements Tor
bringing the tax-reccivable debt into
their pool have not yet been perfected.
On Monday, to which time the COM
mittee adjourned, it is possible that Sir
Edward and his colleague may be able
10 speak more definitely 1t is essential
to the further progress of negotiations
that they should. The committee will
never be satisfied with anything less
than positive and accurate information
in collars and cents.
THE CREDENTIALS.
The DiSpafcb has been unable to sec
the credentials presented to the Cover
nor and to the committee by Sir Ed
ward Thornton and Mr.. Braithwaito,
hut from expressions that have fallen
from committeeman there IS something
in them that the Virginia diplomats
or some Of them, at least-re9art as
unfortunate.
THE CHIEF TALRURS.
At Yesterdays conference the caiet
takers on our part were 3lr. Massey,
Speaker Stuart, and General Wickham.
On the part Of the bondholders Air.
Rraithwaite did most of the speaking.
He was very cautious and prudent in
the language he used. Both he and
Sir Edward were very pleasant indeed
in all they said to the committee.
Several OF the legislators piled the
visitors with questions as to the num-
Der and amount OF bonds they repre-
sent, and other pertinent questions OF
the same sort, but we're unable to get
answers then and there {; but the COM
missioners promised to make full re-
sponses on Monday, giving explicitly
all the information asked.
CARLOAD or BOOKS.
The books asked for by Messrs.
Thornton and Braithwaite, making
nearly cart-load, were sent down to
their hotel yesterday afternoon.
Itappears that in their investigations
they do not wish 10 90 back further